Hold-all containing 20kg of drugs discovered after dramatic pursuit

A Liverpool dad was caught with more than £1m of super-strength heroin after a five-mile police chase.

Ian Hayton, 43, sped through red lights, forced cars to brake suddenly at roundabouts and nearly mowed pedestrians down as he refused to stop for officers who spotted him on his phone at the wheel.

The Garston dad, whose girlfriend was in the front passenger seat, drove down the Knowsley Expressway at its junction with the M57, along Speke Road and Higher Road – even passing Halewood police station – before being blocked in traffic at Macketts Lane in Hunts Cross .

Searching the vehicle, officers pulled a black hold-all from the boot containing 20kg of import-quality heroin and an apparent tick-list of names and numbers of would-be customers.

Hayton was jailed for eight years at Liverpool Crown Court – with a judge allowing mercy after hearing the impact jail would have on his 22-year-old disabled son who required round-the-clock care.

Heroin recovered after Ian Hayton high-speed chase

Outlining events on February 16 this year Stephen McNally, prosecuting, told how Hayton’s Toyota Yaris was spotted following a Skoda Octavia out of the Hare and Hounds pub car park in Maghull .

Mr McNally said: “While driving along the expressway, the driver was observed to be using his mobile phone. Officers in an unmarked vehicle wanted to stop that vehicle as a result.

“But the defendant decided not to do that. He proceeded to accelerate away from the police.”

The court heard that Hayton drove at 60mph in a 40mph stretch of road and caused a car to slam on its emergency brakes at an roundabout.

He ran red lights at two junctions, undertook other cars and narrowly avoided hitting a pedestrian at a crossing.

Hayton’s driving was described as “extremely dangerous” by police officers giving chase.

Mr McNally added: “He continued to use his mobile phone during the course of the pursuit which ended in stationary traffic at the junction of Higher Road and Macketts Lane.

“The defendant was shouting ‘is it just because I was on my mobile phone?’. When the vehicle was searched it became apparent why the defendant had driven away from the police.”

Hayton, of Danefield Terrace, had no previous drugs convictions.

His barrister, Michael Bagley, told the court that his client had become involved after turning to drink and drugs to cope with the pressures of his personal life.

Mr Bagley, who asked the judge for “an act of mercy”, said: “He was not someone ostensibly living a wealthy lifestyle. He didn’t have the trappings of someone who was directing what was going on.

“Those in a leading role do not get their hands dirty. They are not the ones who actually do the moving around of drugs. There are the ones who exploit others and induce others into their criminal organisations by dependency, then debt, then applying pressure.”

Heroin recovered after Ian Hayton car chase

Judge, Miss Recorder Goddard, jailed Hayton for ten years before reducing it to eight in light of the “devastating” impact on his son.

She told him: “It was perfectly clear why you took that decision to evade the police. In the boot of the vehicle was a black hold-all which contained 20 kilograms of heroin of a high purity.”

The judge told Hayton that the strain of caring for his son “may explain your descent into drink and drugs”.

Hayton, who admitted dangerous driving and conspiracy to supply drugs, was also banned from driving.

Police later said Hayton was “consumed by his own greed and the desire to make money”.

Detective Inspector Mark Baker, from the Matrix Serious Organised Crime team, said: "The sentencing of Ian Hayton today clearly shows how seriously the courts take the supply of Class A drugs on the streets of Merseyside.

"Hayton , as with others involved in serious and organised crime, never gave a second thought to the effects of his involvement in the supply of Class A drugs, he was consumed by his own greed and the desire to make money.

" Merseyside Police is committed to targeting those who are involved in serious and organised crime.

“The clear message today is that if you are involved in the supply of illegal drugs on Merseyside you can expect to be arrested and we will put you before the courts. Drugs blight our communities and fuel all sorts of other crime which can ruin the lives of ordinary law abiding people."

DI Baker added: "I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who has any information about serious organised crime to come forward and tell us. If you let us know, I can assure you we will take positive action and help you to improve your community."

Anyone with information can call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.